Fit vs. Brand Name

[elizabethk]

I've been reading a lot of the posts on the site about fit, but the job market for English majors is so bad that I'm wondering if the name of a school trumps fit in this case.

All this to say I'm in at five programs:

A-a private school with not enough funding

B-a state school where the people treated me like a burden

C-a private school with a great program (in reputation) but the people were pretty obnoxious

D-a private school will a good rep that I liked well enough and had decent funding

E-a state school I absolutely LOVED with enough funding

My question for you wise individuals is should I go for D or E? I think E is a better fit, but should I completely forgo fit for the sake of marketability after the PhD (because as MLA tells us only 34% of English PhD students get tenure track jobs after graduation, right?) so would I be eliminated right off the bat for coming from a state school? Or would it be better to come from a state school where I had a strong support, good recs, and was able to publish more, have more individual professional development, etc.

Please help.

[engguy]

E

[TulipOHare]

E. Use the lack of stress to do work that makes you really stand out.

[Tritonetelephone]

E. Congrats!

[a cup of coffee]

E. Where are you going to write the best dissertation possible? Quality work is what will get you a job, assuming the school you choose already places students effectively. Go for it!

[RF237]

E) If you're happier, you'll do better work, which will lead to a better resume. Also, the rumor in my field, at least, is that many state schools are well known for producing good scholars who are good teachers, so their graduates are more likely to get jobs, especially at smaller colleges where teaching is the focus, than Ivy grads. Unless your goal is to be a superstar at an Ivy yourself one day: then go Ivy.

[elizabethk]

Thanks guys. Nothing like a little external affirmation from faceless (yet, surprisingly trusted) strangers to push one to follow her gut...

I appreciate it!!!